Friday, March 4, 2011

LETTER: Safe abortions and sex education is way to go

Safe abortions and sex education is way to go

From the November 3, 2008, edition of the Observer-Dispatch:

In response to a recent letter encouraging banning abortion, I disagree. Many people of the pro-life stance, particularly religious conservatives, cast the abortion debate as a black and white issue when it’s quite the opposite.

Apart from being a woman’s legal reproductive right, ethical support for abortion in instances of rape, incest and ensuring the mother’s health should at least be seen as arguable by any pro-life supporter.

Unfortunately, people of the religious right, such as Gov. Sarah Palin, are so absolute and intolerant in their views that they are even against abortion in cases of rape.

According to the National Abortion Federation, when abortion was illegal in the United States during the late 1800s until 1973, “more pregnant women died from complications from self-induced abortions or abortions performed by untrained practitioners than from any other cause.” This is one of many things to consider when pushing to outlaw abortion.

If our country is to progress in its future, it will certainly not do so by revoking a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body. Providing access to safe abortions, contraception and comprehensive sex education will ensure the rights of individuals to ultimately control their lives free from the oppressive views of others.